Mayor Zohran Mamdani stirred criticism across New York on Saturday after he was seen taking in World Cup action at MetLife Stadium on what was reportedly a complimentary ticket.
The first-year mayor attended Brazil’s opening match against Morocco, a much-anticipated Group C clash, after previously promoting a World Cup ticket lottery for New Yorkers hoping to secure seats at the tournament.
Mamdani watched the game from a luxury suite alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul as New York and New Jersey helped host the event. MetLife is one of 11 U.S. venues selected for the World Cup, which began Thursday across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But his appearance quickly drew backlash once reports surfaced that he had not paid for admission. For many fans, the optics were especially striking given the steep prices attached to World Cup tickets, with some seats selling for thousands of dollars.
Adding to the frustration, Mamdani is also reportedly believed to have obtained multiple premium tickets for matches during the tournament, access that would typically come at a significant cost.
He is said to have snatched up multiple exclusive tickets to games throughout the tournament, which ordinarily would have cost an eye-watering amount.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported received a free ticket for a World Cup game at MetLife
The socialist attended Brazil’s blockbuster fixture against Morocco on Saturday
The mayor’s office confirmed the report in statement to the Daily Mail.
‘Given the unique nature of the World Cup and the once-in-a-generation opportunity for New York City to serve as a host city, the mayor will attend select matches at [MetLife Stadium] in his official capacity to perform official functions as the chief executive of the host city,’ Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said.
Pekec reportedly said that Mamdani has a ‘contractual obligation with the New York/New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee’ to attend the matches.
The rights package provides tickets to host entities to allow them to carry out their duties, which includes representing the city before visiting heads of state and dignitaries and engaging with fans.
She stressed that the tickets bargained-for consideration and have been provided for contractually, meaning they are not a gift. The mayor’s officer sought counsel from the Conflicts of Interest Board, who approve the acceptance of the tickets.
However, Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, who attended the game with her husband, is said to have paid for her own ticket.
As of gameday, the cheapest tickets for the blockbuster matchup were listed for as much as $1,600 on resale sites.
Mamdani’s free pass sparked fury among New Yorkers who called out the Socialist Democrat for bypassing the astronomical prices.
‘Should have given the nice seats to some poor people who couldn’t afford them, because socialism,’ one social media user wrote.
‘A socialist watching millionaires running around in the most capitalist sporting tournament. Poetic irony,’ added another.
Mamdani was spotted alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a suite
Mamdani has a ‘contractual obligation with the New York/New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee’
Meanwhile, a third questioned: ‘But I’m sure he’s going to distribute them to people less fortunate than him. Right?’
The mayor also came under fire earlier this week when he revealed how much he had paid to secure a ticket to the New York Knicks’ Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
On Monday, Mamdani had told reporters in Central Park that he had paid for his own ticket to the game, shelling out just shy of $1,000 for his spot.
Not every New Yorker was convinced, though, with some wondering whether some sort of mayoral discount had been applied.
‘I bought my tickets for nearly $1,000 from Madison Square Garden,’ he said. ‘I’ll be going to tonight’s Game 3, and I’ll be standing for the duration of the game.’
He insisted that he purchased his ticket ‘directly from the organization itself’, but on Monday afternoon tickets in the same section were being sold on resale sites for as much as $4,900.
That said, Mamdani is a regular in the nosebleeds at MSG, and has previously been spotted at Knicks games in a similar section.
